The Federal Government says it has developed a five-year National Control Strategic Plans (NCSP) to curtail the spread of Transboundary Diseases in the Livestock sub sector in Nigeria.
A statement by Mrs Mabel Obe, Senior Information Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the Federal Government was collaborating with relevant stakeholders to reduce the diseases.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, disclosed this at the inauguration of the 2022 Nationwide mass vaccination campaign against transboundary animal diseases for the North-Central Zone in Abuja.
He said that the NCSP plan would ensure improved animal production and productivity for sustainable Livestock Development in the country.
Abubakar said that the ministry had revalidated the Emergency Preparedness Plan for the Control of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
He said that the ministry equally reviewed the Animal Disease Control Act, 2022 which was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said that the ministry, in its efforts to curtail the spread of transboundary diseases, had procured 4.1 million doses of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) vaccines.
”Also, 15.4 milliion doses of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) vaccines, two milliion doses of Foot and Mouth Diseases (FMD) vaccines were procured.
He said three milliion doses of Newcastle Disease vaccines would be allocated to the 36 states of the Federation and FCT, based on request.
The Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, said that with the right structure in place, the livestock sub-sector had the capacity to become Nigeria’s second leading revenue earner.
She expressed optimism that the nationwide vaccination would reduce the menace of animal diseases, enhance sustainable development as well as guarantee food security in the country.
Aliyu was represented by the Permanent Secretary, FCT, Mr Olusade Adesola.
Also, Dr Maimuna Habib, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, reiterated the ministry’s commitment towards capacity building at the federal and state levels.
She said this was through training and re-training for diseases emergencies and protection of loss of livelihood.
Habib is also the Director, Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
By Doris Esa
